Early Learning and Child Care Diploma
About the Early Learning and Child Care Diploma
As an early learning and child care professional, you play an important role in the care, learning and development of children. In the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Diploma program, you will learn to work with newborns to twelve-year-old children in early learning environments and programs.
Graduates will also support their families in their communities. By nurturing each child’s agency and potential within their diverse lived experiences, you can make an impact outside the learning environment. You'll be challenged to recognize your own positionality and practice anti-bias, anti-oppressive approaches that intentionally honour and celebrate each child’s context, family, community, culture and society.
Delivery Options
This multi-delivery approach is especially useful for working students who are balancing work and home commitments with their education goals.
Note: International students are expected to enrol in the on-campus delivery to ensure they are following study permit requirements.
On-Campus
Students in the on-campus delivery option benefit from being on the RDP campus and interacting with their peers. As an ELCC student, you will engage in a variety of learning activities such as cooperative learning, flipped classrooms, readings, assignments, discussions, and reflection exercises that provide opportunities to collaborate and develop both curiosity and critical thinking skills. Practicum placements are in the Red Deer region.
Online
Students in the alternative delivery program benefit from the flexibility of completing coursework asynchronously, with scheduled evening synchronous online sessions with instructors and peers. This delivery mode is intended for students who may be working and are unable to attend courses on the RDP campus.
Work-integrated Learning
You will complete two practicums each program year in early learning and child care settings that will help you connect the program theory to real-world situations.
The ELCC program works closely with a variety of early learning and child care programs, including daycares, family day homes, after-school care, preschools, pre-kindergarten and other approved programs to provide students with work-integrated learning (practicum) experiences in these settings.
Delivery Option for Working Professionals
Note: This option is not available to International Students.
The ELCC Workplace Advancement Specialization is equivalent to the second year of the Early Learning and Child Care Diploma program. It’s designed for students who have already completed the ELCC Certificate or the first year of the Diploma and are working in the field.
Students applying to this program specialization must be employed within a licensed ELCC Facility or Home-Based Centre and must have previously completed a recognized Early Learning and Child Care Certificate program or the first year of a recognized ELCC Diploma program. A Letter of Verification of Employment will be required that shows a minimum of six months in your current workplace.
This immersive workplace learning model validates your knowledge and experience within your place of work in your established role as an ECE. In this model, your workplace learning is enhanced through online engagement with an instructor and a community of working professionals. You will continue to work in your early learning program, and outcomes, skills and competencies will be assessed through your work. You will complete more than 51% of your learning in the workplace and 49% in an online learning environment.
I have really enjoyed the workplace advancement model. I like how I was able to complete it in a year while working and supporting my family. I really enjoyed the support I got from my workplace mentor and my practicum PPA. I also love how the learning from the course is really brought to life in my classroom and isn’t just theory I will have to apply later, after I complete the program.
Related Careers
- Early Childhood Educator
- Licensing Officer
- Family Day Home Consultant
- Family Support Worker or Parent Educator
- Early Learning Program Director/Administrator/Coordinator
- Educational Assistant
Meet the Faculty
At Red Deer Polytechnic, we are proud of our faculty members and staff who are experts in their disciplines and subject areas.
Domestic Intakes
Winter 2026 (On-campus) - Open
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Winter 2026 (Online) - Open
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Spring 2026 (Online) - Open
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Fall 2026 (On-campus) - Open
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Fall 2026 (Online) - Open
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International Intakes
Winter 2026 - Closed
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Fall 2026 - Open
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Note
- International students must pay their tuition deposit to receive their letters of acceptance
- This program requires students to obtain a Co-op Work permit
- Important dates may change
Program CIP: 19.0709
Post-Graduation Work Permit Details
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements will often refer to Alberta Grade 12 course groups. View Admission Requirements for detailed group descriptions.
If you completed your high school education outside of Alberta, please refer to Course Equivalencies for information on how your coursework may align with our admission requirements.
Qualified applicants who meet all minimum requirements will be offered admission on a first-come, first-served basis.
Academic Requirements
Students applying to the Early Learning & Child Care Diploma must have:
- 50% in ELA 30-1 OR 65% in ELA 30-2
OR
- Accuplacer Test with a minimum score of 250 on the Reading component, 250 on the Writing component, and 5 on the WritePlacer Essay.
OR
- Successful completion of 9 post-secondary credits (3 courses).
OR
- Early Learning and Child Care Certificate with a minimum GPA of 1.7, or consent of the Associate Dean
Note: Equivalent courses are accepted to meet admission requirements. Academic Upgrading course equivalents are available at RDP.
Additional Requirements
English Language Proficiency
Applicants whose first language is not English must provide one of the following;
- Three years of full-time education in English in a regular high school or post-secondary credit program:
- completed within Canada, including the grade 12 year; or
- completed in an English-speaking country; or
- completed at a recognized school or institution with English as the primary language of instruction.
- A 'Medium of Instruction' letter may be requested.
Enrollment in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses or programs does not qualify for this purpose.
- English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 or equivalent with a minimum grade of 60%
- One of RDP’s approved ELP requirements (including ELP tests or pathway programs) and a Language Arts course at a grade 12 level (equivalent or higher)
- ILAC University Pathway Program (Level 3.2 or 3.3) with a minimum grade of 70%.
- Robertson College Intensive Academic English course Level 5 (IAE5) with a minimum grade of 70%.
- Completion of an approved English Proficiency Test
- Duolingo English Test: 120-125
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 with at least 6 on each band score
- Oxford ELLT: 7 Overall
Study Permits
Students with Study Permits who are admitted to a program that has a practicum or clinical placement in child care, primary/secondary school teaching or health service field occupations must complete their Medical Authorization as required by Citizenship and Immigration Canada one month before the start of classes.
Practicum Requirements
Students will be required to provide a Police Information Check, including a Vulnerable Sector Check, before being placed for practicum experiences.
If obtaining these documents in Alberta, be prepared for a minimum cost of $50 in extra expenses to acquire these documents annually.
- Failure to present this document may prevent practicum placement.
- Having a criminal record may impede practicum placement, program completion and certification and would affect future employment prospects.
- Each practicum placement decides to accept or reject a student for placement based on the results of the criminal record check.
Practicum courses are usually in the Red Deer area, but plan for some extra costs associated, including travel, clothing and other expenses.
Prior Learning and Transfer
Students presenting courses from other recognized post-secondary institutions may be granted transfer credit.
Technology Requirements
Applicants are required to have either a MAC or a PC laptop with the following minimum requirements.
Apple Laptop
- MacBook Air with 1.6 GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor, 128 GB solid-state storage, 4 GB memory
- Web camera (built-in or plug-in)
- Microphone
Windows Laptop
- Laptop with 2.6 GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor, 128 GB storage, 4 GB memory and Windows 10 operating system
- Web camera (built-in or plug-in)
- Microphone
Software
- Adobe Flash (Latest Version)
- Google Chrome browser
- Microsoft Word
- Students can either purchase and install Microsoft Word or access Office 365, provided with an RDP student account.
Other
- USB memory stick (Flash drive)
Certification Eligibility
Alberta Child Care Staff Certification office requires Early Childhood Educators who are requesting certification to complete a Self-Disclosure for Early Childhood Educators.
Failure to complete this form or failure to disclose information on this form may affect certification and future employment prospects.
Indigenous Learners
Application Fee & Tuition Deposit Waivers
Red Deer Polytechnic recognizes the need to facilitate access to post-secondary education for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners.
To increase participation of Indigenous Peoples, RDP will waive the application fee and remove the tuition deposit requirement for qualified applicants who are First Nations, Métis, or Inuit.
Designated Seats
The Early Learning and Child Care Diploma program has designated four seats for qualified applicants who are First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. After June 1 for the Fall term, October 1 for the Winter term, and February 1 for the Spring term (if applicable), unallocated seats will be released to the waitlist.
Indigenous applicants must meet the admission requirements for the program as outlined in the Academic Calendar and qualify for the Waivers or a designated seat by:
- Self-identifying as an Indigenous applicant on the Application for Admission.
- Providing proof of Indigenous ancestry
Proof of Indigenous ancestry (one of the following)
- Certified copy of a Status or Treaty card, Métis membership card, Nunavut Trust Certificate card, roll number or any other proof accepted by Inuit communities.
- Proof that an ancestor’s name has been entered in the Indian Register according to the Indian Act, the band list of an individual band, or the Inuit roll.
- Written confirmation of Indigenous ancestry from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
- Statutory Declaration by an applicant attesting to Aboriginal ancestry with supporting documentation.
Other forms of proof may also be considered at the discretion of the Registrar.
Program Cost
These costs are an estimate of tuition based on the recommended course load per year; additional fees apply.
These costs are an estimate of tuition based on the recommended course load per year; additional fees apply.
Financial Aid Options
Program Content
The first year of the program is equivalent to the Early Learning and Child Care Certificate.
In the second year, you’ll complete two additional practicums and eight courses that deepen your knowledge and provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate developing capacity in collaboration, leadership and mentorship
Graduation Requirements
You must receive a passing grade and achieve an overall GPA of 2.00 to receive a diploma.
Continuing and Professional Education
Further your career by advancing your existing skills through flexible courses, micro-credentials and programs.
